Nail Art Tutorial: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Nails

Originally I was just going to do some nail stamping with Bundle Monster Image Plate BM-206. But when I finished my nails, the more I looked at the pattern, the more I thought about Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles! (I used to watch that show with my brother when I was little.)

I chose to use OPI Gargantuan Green Grape, which is a nice, minty green that goes on opaquely with 2 coats. Then wait about 20 minutes or longer to make sure that this is fairly dry. If you get impatient and start stamping onto this when it’s still wet, it’ll ruin the manicure and you may have to start over.

Sorry that I don’t have a swatch of Gargantuan Green Grape to show you. Originally I wasn’t going to do TMNT nails and was just going to do nail stamping. So I didn’t think to take photos of each step like I normally do for tutorials.

I used a medium-green stamping polish (Konad Special Nail Polish in Green) so that it would stand out on the minty green base. When you’re done this, wait about 5 minutes to give the pattern a chance to dry a little.

Tip: If you’re new to Konad and Bundle Monster, you may want to check out my Nail Stamping Tutorial where I have step-by-step instructions and photographs that show you how easy it is. (I actually wrote that post when I was a beginner at nail stamping, so it includes tips and tricks I discovered through trial and error.)

P.S. I know that one of the Bundle Monster image plates has an actual turtle-shell pattern (BM-215), but, I used this stamp already and actually, I like these circles better – they look more cartoony to me anyway. But feel free to use whatever stamping design you want to.

Step 4: Paint the Tips Dark Green

I used Nubar Forest because it’s dark green without looking black. And it’s highly pigmented with a smooth formula to boot! 🙂

Wait about 10 minutes to let this dry a bit before continuing to the next step.

Step 5: Add the Masks

This is the fun part because you get to use 4 different colours!

From left to right, I used China Glaze Grape Pop (purple), China Glaze Aqua Baby (blue), Rimmel Rapid Ruby (red), and China Glaze Papaya Punch (orange). You’ll want to choose similar colours that are opaque within 2 coats and that have a creme finish. Stay away from jelly finishes because they won’t show up well on the dark green.

Try to keep the lines as straight as you can and not too thick. Ideally, you want the masks to be like the purple one (and not the blue one, which I made too thick).

You may need to apply more than one coat to ensure opacity. Once you’re done painting these, wait around 5-10 minutes to let this dry a bit.

Tip: You may find it easier to hold the polish brush on one side of your nail and then just turn your nail while keeping the brush in place. I find that gives me a smoother line. But do what you find works best for you.

Step 6: Start the Eyes

Add a few drops of white polish onto your piece of foil. Then use your dotting tool dipped into the polish to create the whites of the eyes on all the masks.

Wait about 5 minutes before continuing to the next step.

Tip: It’s best that for each dot, you re-dip your dotting tool into the polish. If you don’t, you could wind up giving one of them a cataract, like I did to one of the buzzers from my Bee Nails post.

Add a few drops of black polish onto your piece of foil. Then use your dotting tool dipped into the polish to add the pupils. You could make them look at each other, stare at you (like I did), or give them crazy eyes. Their sight is in your hands…and well, on your hands (err…nails)! 😛

Wait a good 10-15 minutes before proceeding to the next step.

Step 8: Add a Top Coat

Step 9: Eat Pizza

Please do this only once your nails are completely dry and set! 😛 I love nail polish, too, but not to eat!

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30 thoughts on “Nail Art Tutorial: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Nails”

This is seriously awesome!! Lots of good memories and my fave was Michaelangelo. “Cowabunga, dude!” 😀

I thought you’d have Master Splinter or Shredder on your thumb. Actually, that gross looking blob that’s the mastermind villain would be easy to draw. Krang was it? Ooooh, or you can do the villains on the other hand, Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang and Shredder! Must. Have. Bundlemonster. Now.

Not too sure how you remember all the TMNT sayings but thanks for another successful trip down memory lane 😉
I can honestly say that I had a major pre-pubescent crush on Donatello. Purple is my favourite colour and his weapon of choice was the bo staff (which later on becMe my favourite during my short stint with kempo-arnise karate) 😉
I love how you used that stamp as the shell design! 🙂 you’re so creative!!! 😉Marta recently posted: Smurf Nails…minus the Blue

Hehehe…awww…that’s cute you had a crush on him! It’s so cool how you tried out karate! Actually, I wanted to try it after watching the Karate Kid as a child, but just never did. Do you still remember any of the moves?

Unfortunately I don’t remember any of the moves (it was a”while”back) and most of the moves were performed and learned in the air (almost dance form-ish) I wish I had retained more. Ahhh the carat kid and mr miagi! :)))Marta recently posted: Soooo Hypnotic

Oh my gosh! *Blush* Thank you SO MUCH for saying that! I’m worried that it’s gonna go to my head now, but that was such a huge compliment! 😀 You’re really helping to motivate me, and I appreciate it.

Sure, you’re more than welcome to link to it. 🙂 Thank you so much for wanting to share it with others. I really hope that people try these out – it’d be cool to see how each person puts their own spin on things.

Oh, that’s perfect! Maybe you could have a makeover party and do each others’ nails. So much fun!

Most of my friends are men, so I don’t often get the chance to have makeover parties. I did, however, paint some of their nails and Konad it up, but it’s rare…hehe…obviously. Maybe a future post will feature their nails. Need to get permission first. 😉

I know I’m late but I love this! I used to watch this too with my little brother. And I have seen all the movies I was forced to watch them many times over again, haha but I loved them. I have not seen the recent one though. Too bad you couldn’t do April. Now I’m hungry for some pizza. hahaa

omg i love the ninja turtles ! to do a ninja turtles nail art is since i began lacquing on my to-do-list (and a pikachu/pokémon nail art too)…

i never had a favourite turtle but my least fav was leo… idk why but for me he was always the less “mutated” of them. raphael was the beau gosse, donatello was smart and michelangelo was gay (in my view he was always gay… maybe cuz the artist michelangelo was gay or because he wore a yellow mask…which is actually not gay at all but okay…) and leonardo was just normal 🙁

my aunt has a pet-turtle named donatello 😀 i tried but he doesnt like pizza 🙁 nothing comes close to the real TMNT 😀

How cute that your aunt named her turtle Donatello! Hahaha, you tried to feed him pizza? Hilarious! Now her turtle needs to befriend a rat in the sewer, learn how to become a crime fighter, and y’know, easy stuff like that. 😉 Hehehe!